Panda Security

Infobox_Company
company_name = Panda Security SL
company_type = Public company
company_
foundation = Durango, Spain (1990)
location_city = Bilbao
location_country = Spain
key_people = Juan Santana (CEO)
industry = Computer software
products = Antivirus, firewall
Spam and spyware detection
Security and management tools
homepage = [http://www.pandasecurity.com/ PandaSecurity.com]

Panda Security SL, formerly Panda Software, is a computer security company founded in 1990 by Panda's former CEO, Mikel Urizarbarrena, in the city of Bilbao, Spain. Initially centered on the production of antivirus software, the company has expanded its line of applications to include firewall applications, spam and spyware detection applications, cybercrime prevention technology, and other system management and security tools for businesses and home users.

Panda's products include security tools for home users and enterprises, including protection against cybercrime and kinds of malware that can damage IT systems, such as spam, hackers, spyware, dialers and undesirable web content, as well as detection of WiFi intrusions. Its trademark technology, branded TruPrevent, is a set of proactive capabilities aimed at blocking unknown viruses and intruders. In 2007 Panda introduced a new collective intelligence security model, which utilizes grid computing for malware collection and detection, that they claim offers a higher level of protection than traditional antivirus applications [ [http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=140292 AV Vendor Adopts 'Herd' Intelligence] ] .

About the company

Overview

Panda Security is the 4th largest antivirus vendor worldwide. [ [http://www.gartner.com/press_releases/asset_154006_11.html Gartner Says Worldwide Antivirus Software Market Increased 13.6 Percent in 2005] ] The company, whose shares were previously 100% held by Urizarbarrena, announced on 24 April, 2007 the sale of 75% of its shares to Southern European investment group Investindustrial and private equity firm Gala Capital. [ [http://www.pandasoftware.com/about_panda/press_room/ Investindustrial and Gala Capital invest in Panda Software to undertake an important expansion plan and launch new IT security solutions globally] ] On 30 July, 2007 the company changed its name from Panda Software to Panda Security and Urizarbarrena was replaced by Jorge Dinares. Almost one year later, on 3 June 2008, amidst flagging sales, the board of directors voted to remove Dinares and replace him with Juan Santana, the CFO. [ [http://www.pandasecurity.com Panda Security] ] [ [http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/media/press-releases/viewnews?noticia=8592&entorno=&ver=2007,3&pagina=&producto= Jorge Dinares: new CEO of the Panda Software Group] ]

The company has been ranked among the 500 fastest growing European companies since 1997. Panda Software is a market leader in Spain and in 1998, the company became Europe's leading antivirus software developer. In 2003, Panda Software has experienced 1,000% growth in revenues worldwide.

Panda Software has clients across 230 countries and offices in 50, including the USA, Canada, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, France, Thailand, Greece, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Peru, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Poland, Turkey, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. In 2003, Panda Software reached Japan, Argentina, Korea and Australia.

Panda Software competes in the antivirus industry against Symantec Corp., Kaspersky, McAfee Inc. and Trend Micro Inc., among others.

Criticism

* Some users have complained of regularly receiving unsolicited e-mail from Panda, [ [http://pcpitstop.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=117098 SPAM Email From Panda Software?] ] [ [http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=487834 Panda Spam Warning] ] and have said that efforts to unsubscribe from the mailings or contact the company have been unsuccessful. [ [http://www.webhostingreport.net/blog/archives/2006/05/05/spam-from-panda-soft SPAM from Panda Soft] ] [ [http://www.zoliblog.com/blog/_archives/2006/5/23/1979910.html AntiSpam Software Maker the Worst Spammer] ] .

Products

Retail products

* Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 (includes:antivirus,antispyware,antiphishing, antirootkit,firewall)
* Panda Internet Security 2009 (includes:antivirus,antispyware,antiphishing, antirootkit,firewall, antispam, parental control)
* Panda Global Protection 2009 (includes:antivirus,antispyware,antiphishing, antirootkit,firewall, antispam, parental control, system optimization, backup)
* Panda ActiveScan 2.0
* Panda Security for Linux

Corporate products

* Panda Security for Enterprise
* Panda Security for Business
* Panda Managed Office Protection
* Panda Malware Radar

* Panda for Desktops
* Panda for File Servers
* Panda for Novell Servers
* Panda for Linux Servers
* Panda for Exchange Servers
* Panda for Domino Servers
* Panda for Sendmail
* Panda for Qmail
* Panda for Postfix
* Panda for Proxy Servers
* Panda for CVP Servers
* Panda for Commandline
* Panda for ISA Servers

Hardware combined with software

* Gatedefender Performa
* Gatedefender Integra

TruPrevent Technologies

TruPrevent, which was introduced in 2003, is a set of technologies developed by Panda Security for proactive protection in home and corporate computers, as opposed to traditional antivirus products, which provide reactive protection.

Truprevent Technologies offers generic protection against many of the techniques most commonly used by new malware, and policies and rules are developed based on the new vulnerabilities that appear every day.

References

External links

* [http://www.pandasecurity.com Panda Security Homepage]
* [http://www.pandasecurity.com/activescan/index/ ActiveScan 2.0 - the free online scanner]
* [http://www.infectedornot.com Panda Corporate Products Homepage]
* [http://research.pandasecurity.com Panda Research Blog]
* [http://pandalabs.pandasecurity.com PandaLabs Blog]